This book brings together a set of incisive essays that interrogate Malaysian history and social relations which began during pre-colonial times, and extended to colonial and post-colonial Malaysia. It addresses economic misinterpretations of the role of markets in the way colonial industrialisation evolved, the nature of exploitation of workers, and the participation of local actors in shaping a wide range of socioeconomic and political processes. In doing so, it takes the lead from the innovative historian, Shaharil Talib Robert who argued that the recrafting of history should go beyond the use of conventional methodologies and analytic techniques. It is in that tradition that the chapters offer a semblance of causality, contingency, contradictions, and connections. With that, the analysis in each chapter utilises approaches appropriate for the topics chosen, which include history, anthropology, sociology, economics, politics, and international relations. The collection of chapters also offer novel interpretations to contest and fill gaps that have not been addressed in past works. The book is essential reading for history students, and those interested in Malaysian history in particular.
Introduction: Overview of the Book and Book Chapters
Chapter 2
Work-life Integration: Overview and Trends
Chapter 3
Organizational Production Process and Work-Life Integration
Chapter 4
Technology and its Impact on Work-life Integration
Chapter 5
Family Friendly Policies: Trend and Expectations in Africa
Chapter 6
Evaluation of the Contributions of Work-Life Friendly Policies in Managing Work-Life Integration in Africa
Chapter 7
Leadership and Organizational Climate: Effects on Work-life Integration
Chapter 8
Understanding and Evaluation of Self: Role in Work-life Integration
Chapter 9
Meaning of Life and Successful Life: Work-life Integration
Chapter 10
Understanding the Family Structure in Africa: Role in Work-life Integration
Chapter 11
Revisiting the Gender Ideology: Traditional and Egalitarian Family Role Definition in Africa
Chapter 12
Understanding the Multidimensional and Multifunctional Approach in Managing Work-life Integration
Chapter 13
Future Directions of Work-life Integration Research in Africa
Rajah Rasiah is Distinguished National Professor of Economics at the Asia Europe Institute, University of Malaya. He is the 2015 recipient of the Celso Furtado prize from the World Academy of Sciences for advancing the frontiers of social science thought. He was made Distinguished Professor of Economics in 2017 by Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education, and awarded the Merdeka Prize for scholastic excellence in 2018.
Azirah Hashim is a Senior Professor in the English Language Department, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics. Her previous positions include Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Institute, Director of the Centre for ASEAN Regionalism, Dean of the Humanities Research Cluster, and Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics. She is also Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany.
Jatswan S. Sidhu is an associate professor in the Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. He is also Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), University of Malaya and Director, Centre for ASEAN Regionalism, University of Malaya (CARUM).
“Through celebrating the work of Shahril Talib Robert, the authors in this volume remind us of a deeper economic and political heritage that is often lost in the rubble of confusing national politics. All who care for Malaysia will find the studies here an uplifting affirmation of the value of open-minded and dedicated scholarship. I congratulate the editors and their colleagues for bringing so much more of the country’s varied foundations to our attention.”
- -- Prof. Wang Gungwu, National University of Singapore, Singapore
This book brings together a set of incisive essays that interrogate Malaysian history and social relations which began during pre-colonial times, and extended to colonial and post-colonial Malaysia. It addresses economic misinterpretations of the role of markets in the way colonial industrialisation evolved, the nature of exploitation of workers, and the participation of local actors in shaping a wide range of socioeconomic and political processes.
In doing so, it takes the lead from the innovative historian, Shaharil Talib Robert who argued that the recrafting of history should go beyond the use of conventional methodologies and analytic techniques. It is in that tradition that the chapters offer a semblance of causality, contingency, contradictions, and connections. With that, the analysis in each chapter utilises approaches appropriate for the topics chosen, which include history, anthropology, sociology, economics, politics, and international relations. The collection of chapters also offer novel interpretations to contest and fill gaps that have not been addressed in past works. The book is essential reading for history students, and those interested in Malaysian history in particular.
Rajah Rasiah is Distinguished National Professor of Economics at the Asia Europe Institute, University of Malaya.
Azirah Hashim Azirah Hashim is Senior Professor in the English Language Department, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics.
Jatswan Singh Sidhu Hernam Singh is associate professor in the Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.